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Love can last
As a 16 year old teenager I met an amazing boy in SU- scripture union in school, his name was Colin and he was the Chair of the society. He was slightly gangly, tall and thin with floppy hair and lovely eyes- kind eyes I always thought. As he prayed at the front, with such sincerity and integrity I was overwhelmed. As a rebellious teen who had recently became a Christian, I felt that he would not look at someone so lowly and not 'holy enough.' However he came along to the Christian Mime and Drama club and he did talk to me.
Much to my surprise he started walking home from school with me, as he lived only 2 doors up the road! I had had several boyfriends before, but I couldn't flirt with Colin in the same way, it seemed different and I never imagined he would like me back. After several weeks of admiring him from afar, doing sketches and performances with the mime and drama club, I came home from communion class one evening and he was cycling around outside my house, I stood outside, freezing, chatting to him in the dark- until finally he asked me to go to the school Christmas concert- just because he had 2 tickets and always went!!
My heart skipped a beat and even after my mum and dad screamed at me for being late, I could not stop smiling. A couple of days later, I asked him to my friend's Christmas party and he said yes! My friend wasn't too impressed, she had a strict number limit from her parents, but she finally said ok he could come. That night he spent the whole party in a tree house with his mate, I was horrified- but I had a feeling of anticipation after he asked me to the Christmas concert. After the party I asked him in to my house and my friend who was staying, very unsubtly left the room for over an hour! Colin and me talked about everything under the sun until finally he said 'I'm sure you know what i am going to say, but will you go out with me?'
I was so happy, I wanted to bottle that feeling forever as I coyly answered 'yeah', then we held hands. Colin has always had such strong hard, safe hands. It felt so special. That next day I went into town to get his phone number, he was working in an electrical goods shop. I still have that compliment slip with his number. Our first official date, the concert, was so much fun. I felt so proud to be there with him, incredibly privileged. As we walked home I got butterflies, kiss or no kiss? I had never wanted to kiss someone so badly! The moment was upon us, I had to go in, Colin laughed nervously and I whispered shut up and went in for the kiss. It was like magic, it felt so right, I literally felt weak at the knees. I remember feeling like it was so special I couldn't even gossip with the girls about it, it was mine and Colin's alone. From then it just got better and better...
Then Colin had to go to University and leave me, I was terrified, how could I cope a day, let alone a month, without him?? He phoned me from the boat, all I wanted to say was come home, but I didn't, I let him go. Everyone told me he would meet someone else; forget about me- I was afraid they were right. But Colin remained true to me, he phoned everyday, sent letters emails and presents. He was so romantic; I used to practically cry before I even opened the envelope. I had always wanted to go to Italy so he organized for us to go on holiday the summer after his first year of Uni, we went to Florence and Venice. It was perfect.
We had so much fun, it was great and he topped it off by surprising me with a proposal on a bridge in Venice- it was unplanned and the timing was so right. We phoned everyone to let the news sink in, then we enjoyed every last minute together before nervously returning home. Much to my surprise everyone was delighted, at 18 I thought my unbelieving parents would disapprove, but they said they knew we were right for each other. University came and went, with another painful year of separation, which reiterated how much we loved and wanted to be together. However at the end of the year we finally got married.
Our wedding day was beautiful, everything was just perfect, I will always remember looking into Colin's eyes and saying those vows. I don't think I have ever truly meant anything compared to those words. We had a honeymoon full of fun getting used to the new physical aspect of our relationship and a great time making our home. 2 years on we have a beautiful baby boy and are now our own wee family- I am so blessed. It goes to show that love can last; nearly 10 years on we are still together. It is not easy but I wouldn't change a thing
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